Automatic forging machine



L. W. GREVE AUTOMATIC FORGIIG` MACHINE Jan. 28, 1930.

Filed Nov. 8;, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 28, 1930. L, w. GREVE AUTOMATIC FORGING MACHINE Filed Nov. s. 1925 '7 sheets-sheet 2 enfui.

l @wf Jan. 28, 1930. L. W; GREVE.

' AUTOMATIC FORGING MACHINE '7u Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov'. 8, 1923 Jan28`, 1930. f` I .WGREV y 1,745,214

AUTOMATIC FORGI'NG MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1923 7 Sheets-Shea?I g4 EZUGIZLO 'aL/MWL Jan. 2s', 1930.

l.. w. GREVE.

AUTOMATIC FORGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y lll/lll Jan. 28; 1930. L. w. GREVE AUTOMATIC FORGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 192; 'I sheets-sheet e Jan. 28, 1930. w, GREQE 1,745,214

AUTOMATI C FORGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Y f 56% |l1l1||1|| |l| 55 U. 9 LJ 454i/ 40 j.

Patented Jan. 2`8, 1930 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS W. GREVE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE CHAMPION MACHINE & FORGING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO AUTOMATIC FORGING MACHINE Application filed November 8, 1923. Serial No. '673,E5U.

This invention relates to Van automatic forging machine, andv has for its object to provide a forging machine' which will do automatically all the work now done manual- 5 ly to transfer the heated blank from the furnace to a forging hammer and to manipulate the blank in the dies of the hammer to produce a finished forging.

In other words, it is the main object to prov vide a machine which will do the worknow performed by forgers, and thereby dispense with considerable skilled labor which is required at the present time. It might be mentioned that at times it is difficult to obtain the skilled labor required to operate hammers for 4the production of forgings, and this is true particularly during the hotter seasons of the year when generally the demand for forgings is the greatest.

The present invention is designed to overcome this disadvantage inasmuch as the machine transfers or carries the heated blanks, one at a time, from the furnace to the hammer, controls the hammer; moves the blank back and forth between the breakdown,

roughing-down and finishing dies, turns it as is required from time to time during the forging process, and finally transfers the forging to a delivery point and returns to the furnace for they next blank, after which the process is repeated.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and pointed out in the appended claims. y

In the accompanying sheets of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine show-l 40 ing a portion of the furnace and the hammer Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated'by the arrows; Fig. 5 is a -horizontal sectional view substantially along the line v5 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a detached elevation with parts in section of the turret and manipu- -lator arm which handles the blanks from which the forgings are made; Fig. 7 is an end view of the same looking toward the left of Fig. 1 and omitting a part of the turret; Fig. 8 is a detail sectional View showing the lower part of the turret and turret supporting cylinder of the carriage frame together with part of the operating mechanism for the turret; Fig. 9 is asectional view through a part of the main carriage frame showing in r plan the drive from the motorshaftvto the main drive shaft; Fig. 10 is an inside face view of the same looking toward the inner side of Fig. 9, the parts being shown somewhat conventionally; Fig. -11 is a plan view of one corner of the frame on the maincarriage and of a part of the manipulator arm showing by dotted lines the mechanism for rotating the turret; Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional vlew through a portion of the main carriage frame showing some of the operating parts, but particularly the turret rotat.

. rolls which are actuated by the cams for the control of the machine, only one of the levers being shown; Fig. 16 is a plan view of the same, showing all the levers in place and in section; Fig. 17 is a sectional view along' the line 17-17 of Fig. 15, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and Fig. 18 is an end View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15, looking toward the right of Fig. 15.

My improved forging machine is utilized with a forging hammer 10, which may b e of ordinary construction, except for certain operating attachments which will be referred to, and also in connection with a furnace 11.

1 I haveshown a portion of the hammer and p nace ma a portion of the furnace in plan view, the arm vbeing directed toward the hammer. To receive a blank, the arm swings through an arc of 90 from the position shown in Fig. 1, or toward the right, this being accompanied by certain movements of carriages, which will be referred to. I have also shown in Fig. 3, a'portion of the hammer with the manipulating arm in the same position as in Fig. 1, and in F ig.v 2 I have shown a portion of the furnace` with the manipulating arm at right angles to the positions shown in Figs. l and 3, or 1n position to receive a blank from the furnace.

The invention does not reside in the furnace per se, and the details thereof are not shown, but it will be understood that any furbe employed which will suitably heat the lanks and convey them so that they may be grasped one at a time by the tongs of' the manipulating arm. In my improved machine, provision is made not only for swingingfthe manipulating' arm, which it might be here mentioned, is carried by a rotatable turret, but also for moving the same toward and from the furnace and toward and from the hammer, or a combination of these movements may be given at the same time, and to that end Ithe followin construction is employed. There is arrange in the space in front of the hammer 10 and furnace 11, a stationary platform 13, and traveling back and forth on the platform 13, in a` direction toward and away from the furnace, is a movable platform, or

what I may term a sub-carriage 14. This sub-carriage is supported on wheels 15 which4 travel on the platform 13', and it is actuated or moved back and forth toward and from the furnace 11 by the rack and pinion method. Gibs 22 serve as guides for the carriage 14 and carry on their under sides, horizontally disposed racks 16, which are engaged by pinions 17 on a horizontally disposed shaft 18, which is actuated in a manner subsequently to be referred to. The construction so far described, is best illustrated' in Fig. 3.

Additionally the machine includes an upper carriage 19, which travels Olathe sub-carriage 14 in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the sub-carriage 14, 0r towardand from the hammer. The upper carriage 19, has wheels 20, which travel on the b ase or body of the sub-carriage 14, and it hkewse is actuated by the rack and pinion method, this upper carriage being guided for lmovement back and forth by gibs 21, (see partlcularly Fig. 2) which carry on their lower sides, racks 23, engaged by pinions 24 on a shaft 25, also disposed horizontally, but above and at right angles to the shaft 18 which actuates the sub-carriage.

The upper carriage 19 is provided with a suitable enclosing frame or casing 26 having bearings for supporting most of the operating parts of the machine, and provided at the front with a vertically disposed socket reret as shown in Fig. 6. This turret carries the lmanipulating arm which will be designated as a whole by the reference character 31. This arm carries at its free end a pair of stock grip-A ping jaws 32, pivoted at 33 at the free end of the arm `and adapted to be opened and closed by the actuation of a piston 34 of an air cylinder 35, also carried by the arm, the piston being connected to toggle links 36,'wh1ch in, Iturn are connected to the inner or rear ends of the jaws 32.

It will be seen from the description so far given, that the entire machine may be moved away from the furnace by actuating the lower carriage through shaft 18; also that the upper carriage may be moved back and forth toward the hammer by actuating shaft 25; that the turret 27 can be swung-about its vertical axis by rotating shaft 29, and that the stock gripping jaws may be opened and closed by supplying air to opposite sides of the piston 34 of the air cylinder 35. These movements are referred to at this point, as they are' fundamental to the operation, but other movements equally important take place, and these and also the details of the operating mechanisms will next be described.

For the 'purpose of moving the carriages,

swinging the turret, and for the purpose of operating certain other parts to be referred to, I utilize a motor, preferably an electric motor 99, which in this instance is supported on a bracket 37A at one side of'the carriag frame or casing 26.

This motor drives what may be termed the main drive shaft 38. Suitable reduction gearing is employed between the motor and this shaft, and in this instance the motor both the carriages 14 and 19. For the purend with a lbevel gear 46 which meshes with than the latter.

,lower clutch member being shown on Fig.

2. The clutches are so arranged that either one may be clutched to the lshaft to impart the forward or back movement to the lower carriage, and both may be placed in neutral position when the carriage is to be stationary. A common clutch operating member 52 is employed, and the manner in which this is operated will be referred to'presently.

For the purpose of imparting movement to the upper carriage to move this carriage toward and from the hammer, a horizontal shaft 58 is'provided in the frame 26, this shaft b eing geared direct to shaft 88 by spur gearing 54. This shaft through bevel gearing 55 drives a vertical shaft 56 provided at its lower end with a bevel gear 57, meshing with `two bevel gears 58. The bevel gear 57 is designed to be clutched to and unclutched from the vertical shaft 56 through the medium of a movable clutch member 59. The two bevel gears58 on the lower horizontal shafty 25 are adapted to be clutched to and unclutched from the shaft 25 by a pair of clutch members and 61. The clutch member 59 on vertical shaft 56 is operated by a yoke 62, while the two clutch members 60 and 61 are operated by'a common double yoke 63. The manner in which these clutches, as well as the clutches 50 and 51 are operated will lbe described presently.

All movements are controlled by automatically operating cams which are rotated through the motor and through the main driving shaft already' described. Inasmuch as I `desire to make provision for handling the blanks from each of which one forging is made, and also blanks from each of which two or more forgings are made, two sets of cams are utilized which are rotated at different speeds. The cams are preferably c'ain grooves, and therefore two camJ drums are provided, these being designated 64 and 65,

the former being driven at a higher speed These drums are mounted on shafts 66 and 67, which vin this instance are horizontally disposed atright angles with reference to the main drive shaft 38. The drum 64 is driven fromshaft 38 by bevel gearing 68, and the drum is driven from the main drive shaft 38 through bevel gear ing 69, the gearing" 68 being of higher speed ratio-than the gearing 69.

The cam drum 64 is provided vwith a series of cam grooves 64, and the drum 65 with la series of cam grooves 65a. These grooves are adapted to be engaged bytwo series of rollers 70 and 71, the former. adapted to engage in the cam grooves 64L of the drum 64, and the latter in the cam grooves 655L of the drum 65. These rollers are on opposite sides of a series of levers 72, pivotally supported at 72a, for rocking movement axially of the drums and extending freely through a frame 73 having trunnions 7 3a at its ends j ournaled in standards 74 (see particularly Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18), the arrangement being such that when the levers 72 are in one operative position, as for example, as shown in Fig. 2, the rollers 71 will engage in the cam grooves of the drum 65, and when the levers 72 have been swung to their other operative position, the rollers 70 will engage in the cam grooves of the drum 64. These levers are designed to be swung simultaneously from one operative position to the other, Yand for that purpose they are extended through a standards 7 4'just below the bearings for the trunnions 73a. This slide bar 7 6 is support- ,ed by bolts 77 going through inclined slots speeds, so that the machine may be adapted for handling blanks from which one as well as a plurality of forgings are to be made,

and the manner in which this result is ac- `complished through the medium of the two cam vdrums will be explained later in the description of the. operation. At this point, however, l Wish to explain the mechanism which shifts the slide bar 76 to rock the levers from one operative position to the other, or to move the rollers from the cam grooves of one drum to the cam grooves of the other. It will be observed particularly by reference to Fig. 3, that the slide bar 76 is connected v-to the upper end of a lever 7 6a, which is pivoted between its ends ou one of the standards 74. The lower end of this lever is connected by a link 7 6h (see Fig. l) to a horizontally disposed bell crank lever 76, one arm of which extends laterally beyond the frame' 26 of the upperI carriage, and is provided with a roller 7 6d. Obviously when this bell crank 4is actuated or rocked in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the slide bar 76 will be moved to the left as the same is viewed in Fig. 1, and in Figs. 15, 16 and17, so asto rock the frame 73, levers 72, and rollers at the upper ends thereof, and shift the rollers 70 into engagement with the cam grooves of slot f a slide bar 76 supported by the llO the Gib 21, so that the slide bar is capable of. V combined endwise and inward or lateral movements relative to the upper carriage, the

` bar being normally held in its forwardmost and outwardmost position by suitable means such as a spring 7 6ll between one end of the slide bar and an abutment 7 6k ,on the same gib 21 which carries the pins 76g, as clearly shown inFig. 1.

On the gib 22 of the stationary platform in front of the hammer, there is an abutment 76 with taperedbr rounded ends, so that as the end of the slide bar moves across the front of this abutment it may slide over the face of the same-and be cammed in a rearward direction or away from the hammer.

The parts are so disposed that as long as the jaws of the manipulator arm carry a blank from'which two or more forgings are to be made, the bell crank 7 6c and its roller 76'i will be at the rear of the slide bar 76" so that throughout the entire series of operations tlie rollers 71 will continue to be enaged by the cam grooves of drum 65. On he other hand, when the mani ulator .has a relatively short blank from w ich a single forging is to be made, requiring the carriage to be moved nearer the hammer than before, during certain rportions of the cycle of movements, i.- e. when the blank is moved under the hammer, in which event the -end of the slide bar 7 6* has been cammed inwardly by the vabutment 76', the roller 7 6d will be in engagement with the face of this slide bar, and, in fact, by the movement of the slide bar, the bell crank 7 6c and the parts connected toit, including'the lever controlling slide bar 76 will have been actuated so 'as to cause the engagement of the rollers with the cam grooves of the more rapidly revolving cam drum 64. During certain other operations of the cycle the slide bar 76 will be out of engagement with the abutment 7 6nl and clear of the rollers 7 6d, in which event the rollers 71 will be restored to the cam grooves of the drum 65, the parts being restored to their former positions by a spring 7 6, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. i

It has already been explained that the levers 72 are rocked by the cam grooves of one drum or the other, so as to shift their upper and lower ends axially of the drum for the control of the various movements imparted to the parts of the machine. At their lower ends these levers 72 individually engage with slides mounted for movement back and forward or lengthwise of the drums in a supporting frame 79 (see particularly Figs. 2 and 5). In this instance seven slides are employed, the same being designated 80, 80",

80, 80d, 80, 80t and 80g, this number of v`slides being utilized as seven movement controls are required. Inasmuch as there are seven of these slides, each cam drum has, of course, asimilar number of cam grooves. The slides are arranged side by side in the frame, and the are rovided above the central portion o the rame with slotted portions 81 which the lower endsof the levers 72 engage, these slots ssimply accommodating the lateral swinging movement of the levers under the action of the 'slide bar 76. In this instance the middle slide 80d operates the two clutch members 60 and 61, movement being transmitted from the slide to the double clutch yoke 63through the medium of a link 82 and a bell crank lever 83 to which the link is connected by an upright lever 83a shown in plan in Fig. 5.- The slide 80e operates the two clutches 50 and 51, movement being transmitted from this slide to the double yoke 52 by a link 84, a lever 85, and a bell crank 86. The remaining slides 80, 80", 80C, 80t and 80g operate air valves which are shown conventionally in Fig. 5, and are designated 87a, 87", 876, 87 f and 87g, the function of these valves being explained later.

The details of construction of the remaining parts of the machine will be described' in the following connected statement of description of the operation.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the manipulator .f

arm extended into the furnace, and assuming that the machine is in operation, and starting ,the cycle of operations with the gripping of the stock b the jaws 32, one of the cam grooves of rum 65 will at this point actuate one of the levers 72 whichvcontrols one of the air valves which may be assumed to be air valve 87, shown in Fig. 5. valve admits air to the rear side of piston 34 in cylinder 35, at the forward end of the This air manipulator arm, causing the jaws to close its axis as soon as the right clearance is provided. While these movements are initiated consecutively', the take plade practically simultaneously. s already explained, the movement of the lower carriage, necessary to bring the manipulator out of the furnace, is

accomplished by the slide 80e actuating the double clutch yoke 52 through links and levers 84,' 85 and 86, and as already explained, the movement of the upper carriage rearwardly and forwardly is controlled bythe middle slide 80d operating the double clutch yoke 63 through the link 82, lever 83a and bell crank 83, these slides being, ofcourse, actuated by the cam grooves of drum 65 andthe associatedlevers 72.

l,While the uppercarriage is traveling back, the turret swings from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A This rotary movement of the turret is accomplished by rotating the pinion 28 which engages the internal gear 30 at the lower end of the turret. As already stated, the pinion 28 is keyed to a shaft 29, extending up into the turret, as shown in Fig. 6. This shaft 29 is rotated by a train of gears 89, shown `in Figs. 3, 11 and 12. One of the gears 89 Tis concentrically arranged with reference to the vertical shaft 48, and is designed to be clutched thereto by a clutch 90, shown in Figs. 2` 3, 11 and 12. This clutch is operated by a bell crank 91, to which is connected a link employed inthis machine.

'air valve controlling the clutch 90 is actu- (see Fig. 3)-leading to a piston in an air cylinder, not shown in the assembly views, but such as illustrated in Fig. 14 at 92. The air supplied to opposite sides of the piston of this cylinder is controlled through an air valve such as il ustrated at 93 in thissame lfigure, this valve 93 and the cylinder 92 with its piston being typical of several which are The particular x ated by one of the slides, in turn actuated by one of the cam actuated levers 72, and for the purpose of this description, .the slide in question may be assumed to be slide 80b of Fig. 5, and the particular air valve maybe assumed to be that designated 87 b. j

After the proper movement o'f the lower carriage has taken place away from the furnace, the lower carriage is stopped by the same control mechanism which started it, and when the. turret has been swung through 90 so that it is now opposite the hammer, its rotary movement is stopped by the same control mechanism which started it, and after `the upper carriage has been moved back a sufficient distance so that the manipulator arm will clear the hammer as already stated, its backward movement is stopped, and when the 90o swinging movement of the turret is com-N ward movement of the upper carriage.

The forward movement of the carriage now continues until the blank carried in the jaws 32 strikes a stop member in the form of a bell crank 94, best shown in Fig. -1. At this point it might be mentioned that the lower die 95 of the hammer has three` impressions designated A, B and C, the same being the breakdown, roughing and finishing impressions commonly employed in drop hammers for making forgings. When the blank strikes the stop 94, the manipulator arm is in line with impression A of the die 95j.'

The actuation of the stop 94 (Fig. 1) through a link 96, opens an air valve 93a, and air is supplied through a flexible line 97 connected to an air cylinder designated 92a in Figs. 1 and 5, which air cylinder with its piston, through the medium of a link 98 actuates `the clutch yoke 62 which is in the form of a bell crank, as shown in Fig. 5, and which in turn operates the clutch member 59 on the vertical shaft 56 so as to disengage this clutch. This clutch being disengaged, Vobviously the upper carriage comes to a stop with the forward portion of the blank above the impression A ofthe lower hammer die 95. When v the stop 94 isactuated by the end of the blank so as to open the air valve93, this same air valve in addition to supplying air to the cylinder 928L which actuated the clutch/59, allows air to pass to an air cylinder 100 (see Figs. 1 and 3), this cylinder being fastened to the base of the hammer with its plunger directly above and in position to engage the footboard 101 of th'e hammer.

The foot-board 101 actuates the standard starting and stopping mechanism ef the hammer which need not be described, as it maybe the same as is employed with the usual drop hammers.' It will be suliicientto state that rod upand down, the latter thus being enabled to control the hammer gripping mechanism, which when released allows the hammer to drop. On this rod I provide a stop 103, the same being shown in Figs. 3 and 13. This stop is designed to be engaged by the hammer on its upward stroke, andthe lifting of the rod which follows, actuates a ratchet pawl .104, turning a ratchet wheel 105 which opcrates an air valve 106 carried on the upper part of the hammer housing, this valve being indicated'conventionally both in Figs. 3 and 13. The function of this valve is to admit air to the lower part of cylinder 100 (see lower right hand cornerof Fig. 3) so as to lift the plunger from the foot-board 101 and thereby cause the hammer to be stopped in its upper position precisely as when the operator removes his foot-from the foot-board as these hammers are ordinarily operated.

` When the hammer goes up after striking the stock, regardless in what die impression l with the oor of the carriage 19, or any other suitable abutment to lift the turret and the manipulator arm suiliciently to causethe stock to clear the die impression. This valve 107 is turned in one direction when the hammer goes up so as to causet-he turret to be lifted as just stated, and to be turned in the '.opposite direction when the hammer drops so as to reverse the'air in cylinder 109 and allow the turret to be lowered so that the stock will again rest on the die. j

The first forging blow now "having been delivered to the blank while in position A,

the blank is now moved over to position B, or

to the roughingout die impression. To do this it is only necessary that the lower carriage be moved an amount 'equal to the disytance between position A and position B.

is done by the same control .mechanism previously described for moving the lower carriage, this mechanism being actuated by the cam drum.

db l' h' h t d actua'te y a s 1de' 80e w 1C m um 1S move if the manipulator arms, the lower carriage Next, air is again introduced above the piston in air cylinder 100 in order that the foot# board 101 may again be depressed as previously, and this is accomplished by one of the cam controlled air valves, which maybe assumed to be 87 of Fig. 5, this valve being by one of the cam controlled levers 72.

The hammer now drops, giving a second forgin blow to the stock (now in position B) and immediately thereafter the hammer is elevated and stopped as already described,

the turret and manipulator being elevated htly when' the hammer oes up by the air in sition A. Next the stock is Amoved to position C, which is done by a movementvof and the forging is ready to'be `cut from thev stock held in the jaws of the manipulator.

To do this the machine is again moved in a direction away .from the furnace until the stock is in position D over a cut-off 111.

. When in position D the hammer is again dropped by the actuation of valve 87, striking the stock now resting on the cut-olf, and this blow of the hammer severs the forging from the stock in the jawgof the manipula- -tor arm.

As is well known, in the `usual hand operated forging machines where the blanks are manipulated manually, it is desirable to turn the blank so that when the second blow is delivered to the blank, the hammer will strike a different side of the blankthan when the first blow was delivered. That operation not only helps develop the shape of the blank in the die impressions,but7'it facilitates the inal operation of cutting oifthe forging from the blank.

The same turning operations are performed in my improved machine, andV in order that this might be done, the manipulator arm 31 is rotatably supported in a horizontally disposed barrel 112. Midway between the ends of this barrel the portion of the arm fitting into it lis provided with an annular series of gear teeth, the equivalent of a spur gear, designated 113, (see particularly Fig. 1). This gear 113 is engaged by a rack 114 (see Fig. 7 which is actuated by a piston in an `air cylinder 115 [inside the turret, this cylinder being shown by dotted lines in Fig.

7. The piston in this cylinder and the rack 114 are actuated atintervals by a cam controlled air valve, which maybe assumed to be valve 87t of Fig. 5, actuated by slide 80'. This slide 80 is so actuated by the associated cam controlled lever 72 that the manipulator arm is given'a .quarter of a turn about its axis when the-stock is being moved from position A to position B, and a second quarter turn in the reverse directionwhen the stock is being moved from position C to the cutofi:l position D.

Assuming that another forging is to be made from the same stock held in the jaws vis now actuated to move the stock back to inder 109, the same as w en the stockwas position A, and the upper carriage is moved forwardly until the end of the stock again engages and shifts the stop member 94, whereupon precisely the same operations as def scribed above are repeated.

After the second forging tor arm, the stock is released from the jaws. To accomplish this, the upper `carriage is backed away slightly from the hammer, and

Ithe turret is swung 909 in a direction away from the furnace, this being accomplished by the same carriage and turret controlling mechanisms already described, and when the turret hasbeen given its right angle swing just stated, the jaws are opened by admitting air tothe front end of c hnder 35.

When this is accom shed, the lower carriage moves toward t e furnace, 'the turret has been made l from the stock' in the jaws of the manipulaabove.

makes a 180 Swing and the upper carriage moves forwardly until the parts are again in position for the jaws of the manipulator arm to grasp another piece of heated stock in `the furnace, whereupon the operationsl are repeated.

vWhen the stock is being forged in positions A, B and C of the lower die of the hammer, it naturally elongates,` necessitating provision\for backward or inward movement of the jaws'xto compensate for this elongation. Additionally it is, sometimes the-case that the stock sticks to the upper die of the hammer and is carried upwardly for a distance with rear part which is journaled in the barrel 112 consists of a tube 116, this being the tube carrying the gear 113 which is engaged by the rack 114 to rotate the arm, as explained The forward end of this tube 116 is connected by a hinge 117 to a tube 118. Inside this tube there is an inner tube 119 which is capable of sliding outward some distance relative to its surrounding tube 118, the inner tube having a slot 120 engaged by a pin 121, the tube 119 being normally in its innermost position with the end of the slot engaging the pin 121. If necessary, I may provide a spring such as indicated at 122 to yieldingly resist the forward movement of tube 119 in tube 118.

Secured to the forward end of inner tube p a slot 125 engaged by a pin 126 carried by the tube 123, this pin being normally at the rear end of slot 125, orl in other words, the tube 124 is normally in its forwardmost position with respect to the tube 123 within which it slides. The length of this slot is such that compensation may be made for the maximum elongation of the stock While being forged to toggle links 129 which operate on a'pair of friction shoes 130 engaging the inner surface of forward tube 124. These friction shoes are connected to the forward head of cylinder 127 by links 131. so as to hold the shoes in a given position.' Obviously when air pressure is applied to the rear 'of piston 128, the toggle links 129" are straightened, causing the shoes to bear with predetermined pressure on the inner surface of tube 124, and when the piston 1281is moved rearwardly, this pressure is removed. Between the forward end of tube 119 and the rearr end of tube 124 a spring 132 is provided, the function of which is to move the tube 124 forwardly when the forging has been Lcut off from the stock and the pressure of the brake-shoes is removed from tube 124.

The air supply for cylinder 127 is coutrolled by' a cam actuated, air valve, which may be assumed to be valve 87g of Fig. 5` this valve being actuated by slide g which is moved at the proper time by the associated cam controlled lever 72. Thus by the mechanism described, the stock is permitted to elongate, and the jaws move inward to compensate for it, .but when the forging is completed the jaws again move forwardly to their normal outermost position, this. forward movement, as explained above, being due toy the sliding forward of tube 124 under the action of spring 132 when the air pressure is admitted tothe forward side of piston- 128. Immediately after this occurs, air pressure is again admitted behind the piston 128 so that the shoes 130 will bear with the desired pressure on the tube 124. It was stated 'above also, that occasionally the stock while being forged clings to the upper die carried by the hammer, and is carried upwardly, and it was explained that provision was made for preventing injury to the manipulator arm should this' occur. Likewise, it was stated that the forward part of the arm was connected to therear tube c116 by a hinge/1517 so as to enable the part in advance of the hinge to swing upward. When the forward part of the arm thus swings upward, it engages a lever 133 which extends over the tube 118 of the arm, this lever being pivotally supported on a bracket 134 supported on theupper part ofthe barrel vor bearing 112-of the arm. The engagement of tube 118 with the overhanging part of lever 133 swings the lever, and this swinging movement through the action of a link 135 l swings a lever 136 which actuates an air valve 137. The function of this valve is to supply air to the upper side of a piston 138 carried by'a stationary rod 139 at the axis of the turret, this piston being enclosed in a cylinder 140 which is secured to the turret. In consequence, if the stock is carried upwardly with the upper die the tube 119 slides out in the enclosing tube 118, and at the same time the4 forward part of the arm swings upward about the axis of hinge 117, causln the actuation of air valve 137 and causing t e entire turret and manipulator arm to be elevated.

When the stock is released from the upper i die, or if it comes down with the upper die,

the inner tube 119 slides back into the outer tube 118, and at the same time the forward hinged part of the arm swings downward, and when tube 118 is clear of the overhanging part of lever 133, air valve 137 reverses the supply of air, admitting air beneath thepiston 138, and causing the turret and the arm to be lowered to their normal lower position.

I prefer to provide both on the lower die and onLthe upper die a suitable vibrating device, the tendency of which is to prevent the stock sticking in the die impression either of the lower or upper die, so that normally the turret remains in its lowered position, and the elevating mechanism just described is inactive,-and there is normally no telescoping action of the tubes 118 and 119.

. crank lever 7 6 is actuated by the slide bar 7 6 stock in the furnace.

(Figs. 1 and 5)'. This engagement does not take place unless the blank to be forged is of such length that only one forging is to be f made from it, or in the event that after a forgin has been made on the end of the blank or stoc there is\suiicient length for only one more forging. In either event the roller 76d will be far enough-forward to'be engaged by slide bar 76 when it is actuated by its engagel ment with the abutment 76m, and when the bell crank 76 is rocked the levers are swung from the positions shown in Fig. 2 until the rollers 71 are free of the cam grooves of drum and the rollers 70 en age in the cam grooves of the niore rapi ly traveling cam drum 64, the more rapid movement being required for the reason that after the single forging has benen completed there is no necessity of moving the manipulator back to position A and again repeating the forging operations for a second forging, but immediately after the completion of the single forging, the turret swings to one side to release the short piece of stock held in it, and then swings back 180 to receive a new piece of Inasmuch as two -forgings4 are made when drum 65 is used, and only one when drum 64 v is used, the latter is driven twice as fast ash. 'the former so as to make a complete rotation lwhile the drum 65 is making'one'half a rotation. l

I have in this application shown ,and described simply one embodiment of the in `vention, but I wish to oint out that the machine may be modifie vconsiderably and -assume different forms than here shown. For example, I do not regard it as essential that two cam drums be employed, as a single cam struction and arrangements of drum will be sufficient if the machine is intended to operate continually with blanks Ifrom which the same number of forgings are regard it as essential that the manipulator arm be supported in a turret, or that the arm be given swinging movements. Furthermore, I do not regard it as essential that the motor and the controlling devices be mounted on and movable with the' carriage carrying the manipulator arm, for these parts might be otherwise plaged without affecting their power transmitting and controlling functions.

I therefore aim in my claims to cover all modifications and changes in details of conarts Iwhich do not involve a departure from t e spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.y

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, with an apparatus for heating blanks and a machine having a plu-` ralit of separate sets of dies fqr forging the blau s, a manipulator having means for grasping the heated blanks one at a time and means for yautomatically causing said manipulator tol transfer the blanks from the heating apparatus to cthe machine and successively move the same into and out of the'different sets of dies.

2. In combination with an apparatus for heating blanks and a machine having a pluralitv of separate sets of dies for forging the blanks, a manipulator .having means for grasping the heated blanks one at a time, means for actuating the manipulator to transfer the blanks to the forging machine,

independently operable mechanisms for operating said grasping means, said actuating means, and said forgingrmeans, and sequenf-' tially operated devices for automatically con-yf i trolling the operation of said mechanismsjto transfer the blank and move it into and out of the different sets of'dies to forge it.

. 3. In combination with a forging machine having a plurality of separate sets of dies, a manipulator for holdin a blank and moving it from one set of dles to another in the forging machine, independently operable mechanisms for imparting movements to the manipulator and for operating the forging machine, and sequentially operated devices for automatically controlling the operation of said mechanisms.

4.-. A manipulator for handling blanks to be forged and for use in connection with a drop hammer, comprising a manipulator arm, means for supporting the arm comprising a vertically movable member in which the arm may turn about its longitudinal axis, blank-holding means at the outer end of the arm so mounted as to be capable of movement upwardly relative to said arm supporting means, and means automatically controlled by an upward movement of the blank-holding means for elevating said supporting member in the` event the blank clings to the upper die of the hammer when it is elevated.

5. In combination with a forging machine having a pair of dies in which a blank is adapted to be forged and a member for controlling said machine, a manipulator for handling blanks to be forged having blankholding means, and means controlled by the movement of the blank into the forging machine for operating said member.

6. In combination with a forging machine of the drop hammer type having a plurality of die impressions in which a blank is adapted to be successively placed, a manipulator for holding and moving a blank from one die impression to another in the forging ma.- ohine, and means for automatically moving the manipulator to shift the blank and for causing the operation of the hammer when the blank is in its different positions.

7. In combination with a forging machine having a pluralityof separate sets of dies in which blanks are adapted to be forged and a furnace for heating the blanks, a manipulator for receiving a heated blank from the furnace and conveying the sameito the forging machine, and for shifting Ithe blank into and out of the different set-s of dies of the' forging machine, and means for automati-v cally controlling the movements of the manipulator. g VV 8. In combination with a forging machine a of the drop hammer type having a plurality of die impressions in which a blank is adapted to be successively placed, a manipulator for holding and moving a blank from one position to another in the forging machine, means for automatically causing operation of the hammer when the blank is in one position, and separate means for automatically causing the operation of the hammer when thcblank is in another position. v-

9. In combination with a forging machine having a plurality of different sets of dies in which heated blanks are adapted to be forged and a suitable furnace in which the blanks are heated, automatic means for transferring the heated blanks one at a time from the furnace to the forging machine, for shifting the blanks in the forging machine into and out of the separate sets of dies and for controlling the forging machine, comprising a manipulator having an arm carrying blank-holding moved so as to shift the blank from one die impression to another, and also to be turned.

11. In combination with a forging machine having a plurality of separate sets of dies in which blanks are adapted to be forged, automatically operating means for feeding blanks to the forging machine including a manipulator having means for grasping the blanks one at a time and means for operating the manipulator to ltransfer the same successively to the separate sets of dies of the forging machine, means for turning the blanks while in the dies, and means for sequentlall and automatically operating said blank grasping and transferring means and said blank rotating means.

12. In combination with a forging machine having a plurality of separate sets of dies in which blanks are adapted to be forged, automatically operating means for feeding blanks to the forging machineincluding a manipulator having means for grasping the` blanks one at a time and transferring the same lto the forging machine, means for turning and laterally moving the manipulator so as to cause the blank to be shifted successively into and out of the separate sets of dies, andl means for sequentially and automatically operating saidblank grasping and transferring means and said blank turning and shifting means.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signature.

LOUIS W. GREVE. 

